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South Jordan Journal

Bingham transforms school commons for its dinner-dance

Apr 15, 2019 11:00AM ● By Julie Slama

By Julie Slama | [email protected]

Enter the school commons and you won’t find typical cafeteria tables but lamp posts, chandeliers, elegantly set round and twinkling lights to sway the night away. It will be a big swing and jazz night at Bingham High School. 

The school’s 13th annual Jazz Dinner Dance & Silent Auction will be Saturday, May 11. Dinner will be served from 6 p.m., with dancing beginning at 7 p.m. The night wraps up at 9 p.m.

Tickets will be sold for both couples and individuals. Tickets for two for the dinner and dance are $35, while tickets for one are $18. They must be purchased before Friday, April 26 in the school’s main office, 2160 West 10400 South. For couples just wishing to dance, tickets are $20, or for individuals, $10. There is a student price of $5 for the dance. You may purchase dance tickets in the school office or at the door.

The night will include music by the school jazz band as well as The Phoenix Jazz & Swing Band. In addition, there will be performance by the school’s ballroom team during set changes.

“The whole event will truly be student-run,” said dinner-dance chair Shaeley Kuehn. “It benefits the students, so they are the ones working to make this event successful and fun for the whole family. We have grandparents and elderly in the community coming out to young kids who come to support this night.”

This year, the goal is to have 300 guests and raise $9,000, which would surpass last year’s record of $8,000.

“Every year, we build on it, making it a special night,” Kuehn said.

This year, silent auction items already have been coming in. Donated items typically are tickets for JetBlue airlines, Disneyland, Hale Theatre, sporting events and themed baskets from camping to a date night.

Bingham High’s band program, under the direction of Darin Graber, recently won back-to-back state titles in 2016 and 2017. Last year, the South Jordan City Council honored the band by naming April 17 as Bingham High School Marching Band Day. This past fall, the band placed second at state. In addition, Graber said the school jazz and concert bands frequently qualify and perform at state, receiving superior ratings. The band recently had 14 students qualify for state in solo or small ensembles.